Senegal: CAF launches ''Africa United'' campaign against Ebola

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - At the official draw for the 2015 OrangeTM Africa Cup of Nations held Wednesday in Equatorial Guinea, a new initiative, dubbed ''Africa United'', was launchedas a global health communications campaign aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola in West Africa.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) joined football stars, celebrities, international health organizations and corporations to announce the launch of the campaign, according to
a statement by the organizers.

The campaign, which is supported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation and driven creatively by actor Idris Elba, is designed to recognize the vital role of front line healthcare workers, as well as to provide critical education and resources for the people of West Africa.

As part of the campaign, educational messages will be delivered on local and national radio and TV, billboards and by SMS to audiences in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries.

The statement also disclosed that in a new TV spot titled “We’ve Got Your Back,” Elba and a group of football players committed to the fight against Ebola in West Africa, including Yaya Touré, Carlton Cole, Kei Kamara, Patrick Vieira, Fabrice Muamba and Andros Townsend, ''are voicing their solidarity with the healthcare workers who are risking their lives every day to fight Ebola.''

In the video, the players acknowledged that although their fans regard them as heroes, healthcare workers tackling Ebola are the true heroes.

Each player wears the name of a healthcare worker on his back as a symbol of respect for “the world’s most important team.”

“For me the battle against Ebola is a personal one. To see those amazing countries in West Africa where my father grew up and my parents married being ravaged by this disease is painful and horrific,” remarked Idris Elba, actor and the creative force behind the development of the campaign public service announcements (PSA).

“Imagine having to sit down and tell your family that you were going to fight this disease. That conversation is happening across West Africa and around the world every day. I am in awe of the bravery of these health workers, who put their lives at risk day in and out to stop the spread of this terrible disease.

''My hope is that, in some small way through the development of these PSAs and the creation of the Africa United campaign, we can ensure that these workers get the support they need and that health messages are delivered to people on the ground to help them in their fight. We have got your back. We will support you,” said Elba.

In another campaign video titled “West Africa vs. Ebola,” Elba stars as a soccer coach giving a rousing and educational team talk to West Africa in preparation for its “life or death” game against Ebola.

Elba explains the symptoms of Ebola and tactics for how to beat the virus, which includes spreading the word and working as a team.

"I wanted to support this campaign for so many reasons. I could not sit back without doing something to help fight Ebola. It is important we don't treat this as something we just discuss with work colleagues or simply follow on the news for updates - instead our focus should be to do something,” said Yaya Touré, Ivorian professional footballer.

"I also wanted to get involved with this campaign as it pays tribute to the many, many African heroes who are in the villages, towns and cities using their skills, resourcefulness and intelligence to battle Ebola. Those people on the front line are often forgotten. African mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters are doing everything they can to fight Ebola - we have to support them," Toure' added.

The video spots and other multimedia educational materials—including video and radio messages, billboards and posters—will be available on the campaign website, www.WeAreAfricaUnited.org, in English, French, Krio and additional local languages.

The educational materials have been designed to be adapted and distributed by Africa United partners such as ministries of health, health clinics, government and non-governmental organizations, media and sports organizations.

To further leverage the power of football to reach Africans, Africa United will distribute FIFA and CAF’s ‘11 Against Ebola’ messages through Africa United partners.

The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, infecting nearly 16,000 people with more than 5,600 deaths to date.

''While the spread of Ebola is a threat to people, health systems and economies around the globe, West African communities in particular, are being crippled by the disease as a result of already-strained healthcare systems, mistrust of healthcare workers and fear and stigmatization of those infected,'' the statement added.
-0- PANA MLJ/AR 3Dec2014